P&G introduces power Oral-B toothbrush with wireless display

SAN FRANCISCO Procter & Gamble’s Oral-B toothbrush brand has announced the launch of its new Triumph with SmartGuide, marking the first power toothbrush with a wireless display to help consumers improve their brushing habits.

The toothbrush features Smart Technology, in which the brush head, handle and now visual display work together so users can receive visual cues to help them brush better. The FlossAction brush head and handle are embedded with microchips. The handle communicates with the wireless display to signal when the user is brushing too hard, when to move to the next quadrant of the mouth, when they have brushed for two minutes and when it is time to replace the brush head.

According to the company, those who use the toothbrush are up to four times more likely to brush the dental-recommended two minutes that with a regular manual toothbrush. A recent study showed that 93 percent of those who used the Triumph with SmartGuide reduced their aggressive brushing behavior within 30 days.

The new Oral-B Triumph with SmartGuide has a suggested retail price of $149.99.

Whole Foods to highlight natural makeup in October

Looking to help its beauty shoppers better understand the benefits of natural cosmetics, Whole Foods Market is highlighting natural makeup during October.

As part of the effort, Whole Foods Market will carry an exclusive “fresh face starter kit” by Mineral Fusion for $20 during October (a $120 value), with a portion of the proceeds going to Pink United, a nonprofit organization that supports the fight against breast cancer.

Select stores will also have Mineral Fusion makeup artists on hand for natural makeovers. Several resources are available online, such as a mineral makeup video podcast at wholefoods.com/socialmedia/wholebody and Whole Foods Market’s “Glossary of Cosmetic Ingredient Functions.”

“There are many reasons shoppers should consider natural cosmetics,” stated Jody Villecco, national quality standards coordinator for Whole Foods. “You care about what you put in your body, so it’s logical to be concerned about what goes on your body. Natural cosmetics are made with the highest quality natural ingredients and, unlike conventional makeup, get their color primarily from plants and minerals which can be less irritating.”

Playtex announces stockholder approval of Energizer merger

WESTPORT, Conn. Playtex Products announced on Thursday that stockholders have approved its merger agreement with Energizer Holdings, a maker of batteries and flashlights and the parent company of wet shave products manufacturer Schick-Wilkinson Sword. The deal is expected to close on or about Oct. 1.

Once the deal closes, Playtex will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Energizer and its common stock will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The deal, valued at about $1.9 billion, will add feminine care, sun care and infant care products to Energizer’s portfolio. It is expected to be accretive to Energizer’s earnings per share in fiscal year 2008.

According to Energizer chief executive officer Ward Klein, the deal makes sense, as both companies have similar customers and distribution channels in the United States and Canada, and there’s an opportunity for geographic expansion.

“We also believe there are significant integration and cost reduction opportunities for the combined businesses. Energizer will emerge with a more diversified portfolio of products, and greater scale in the personal care category, which will now be evenly balanced with our household goods business. It will also provide a platform for possible additional value-adding acquisitions,” said Klein in a previously issued statement.

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Colgate wants to help consumers change and improve the way they brush their teeth by launching a new electric toothbrush with artificial intelligence that will provide users with feedback on teeth brushing.
The Colgate Smart Electronic Toothbrush E1 with Artificial Intelligence works with Apple's ResearchKit to crowdsource toothbrushing data for better and faster innovation, the company said. Designed with the help of dentists, the brush features real-time sensors and AI algorithms to detect brushing effectiveness in 16 zones of the mouth.

Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens will be introducing the first implementations of its new store format later this spring, or in early summer, executives said Monday night at the 36th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The new format will mark the first major overhaul of the core Walgreens format since the finalization of its merger with Alliance Boots in December 2014.

Revlon has named actress Gal Gadot as their latest global brand ambassador. The "Wonder Woman" star will appear in the beauty company’s Live Boldly campaign, which is designed to inspire women to express themselves with passion, optimism, strength and style, the New York City-based company said.

Goddess Garden Organics recently augmented sensory health and wellness merchandising assortments with a line of wearable aromatherapy accessories and essential-oil roll-on perfumes.
“Aromatherapy’s popularity is quickly becoming mainstream, and the benefits of pure essential oils are undeniable,” stated Nova Covington, CEO Goddess Garden, which operates out of Boulder, Colo. “Our new line lets people enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy on-the-go, with the added bonus of mood-enhancing stones.”

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